Bridging patterns of neurocognitive aging across the older adult lifespan

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of brain and neurocognitive aging rarely include oldest-old adults (ages 80 +). But predictions of neurocognitive aging theories derived from MRI findings in younger-old adults (ages ~55-80) may not generalize into advanced age, particularly given the increased prevalence of cognitive impairment/dementia in the oldest-old. Here, we reviewed the MRI literature in oldest-old adults and interpreted findings within the context of regional variation, compensation, brain maintenance, and reserve theories. Structural MRI studies revealed regional variation in brain aging as larger age effects on medial temporal and posterior regions for oldest-old than younger-old adults. They also revealed that brain maintenance explained preserved cognitive functioning into the tenth decade of life. Very few functional MRI studies examined compensatory activity in oldest-old adults who perform as well as younger groups, although there was evidence that higher brain reserve in oldest-old adults may mediate effects of brain aging on cognition. Despite some continuity, different cognitive and neural profiles across the older adult lifespan should be addressed in modern neurocognitive aging theories.

Keywords: (3−12): oldest-old; Advanced age; Anterior-to-posterior; Brain maintenance; Brain reserve; Compensation; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neurocognitive aging; Neuroimaging; Nonagenarians; Octogenarians.

Figure 1.

Neuroimaging patterns relevant to each neurocognitive aging theory reviewed here (left) are presented separately for younger-old (ages < 80 years) and oldest-old (80+ years) adults. Brain maintenance captures similar effects across the older adult lifespan, whereas oldest-old adults exhibit different patterns of regional variation, brain reserve, and functional compensation. WMH = white matter hyperintensities, BOLD = blood-oxygenation-level-dependent.